Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 67.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium stood at 67.2%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium peaked at 67.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 46.2%, in 1990.
Belgium ranks 70th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 46.2% | — |
| 1991 | 48.2% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 49.4% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 50.4% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 51.3% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 51.9% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 52.2% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 53.0% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 53.9% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 56.0% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 56.6% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 54.4% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 55.4% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 55.8% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 57.7% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 59.5% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 59.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 60.5% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 60.8% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 60.9% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 61.8% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 61.1% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 61.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 62.3% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 63.0% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 63.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 62.9% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 63.2% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 64.3% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 64.9% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 64.5% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 65.6% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 66.8% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 66.7% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 67.1% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 67.2% | +0.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 67.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 71.9%, 93% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 67.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 71.9%, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.2% | 46.2% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.1% | 54.4% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.8% | 61.1% | 64.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.3% | 64.5% | 67.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More work & labour data for Belgium
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1676 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1614 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1395 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,349 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,498 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,563 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 11,061 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium was 67.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 67.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.2% in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Belgium ranks 70th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.